Benavente gets 7 years for burglary, firearm possession

Brandon Lizama Benavente will spend the next seven years behind bars following his guilty plea to burglary and illegal possession of a firearm. The sentence was handed down by Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo last Thursday, Oct. 10, after Benavente admitted to violating his probation in a prior case.

Benavente faced charges in three separate criminal cases. He pled guilty to burglary as well as illegal possession of a firearm. Both cases carried a 10-year sentence, but Govendo suspended all except seven years of imprisonment, with credit for 252 days already served. Notably, Benavente will not be eligible for parole or early release in either case.

In addition to the current cases, Benavente violated his probation and will serve the remaining four years of his previously suspended sentence, also without the possibility of parole or early release. All sentences will run concurrently, with his release scheduled for Feb. 1, 2031.

Upon his release, Benavente will be placed on probation for 10 years. As part of the conditions of his probation, he must pay a $1,210 probation fee and $93,500 in restitution to the victim, while the $350 restitution owed in the probation case will be converted to a civil judgment. Additionally, he is required to perform 160 hours of community service.

The court also ordered Benavente to testify against his co-defendant, Consolacion Sablan, in any future hearings or court proceedings related to the case. This includes providing truthful testimony at trial or during revocation hearings for other individuals involved, as specified in the judgment and commitment order.

Benavente was represented by attorney Vincent Seman, while assistant attorney general Heather Barcinas acted on behalf of the government.

The charges against Benavente stem from a search warrant executed by the Department of Public Safety’s Rapid Response Team on Feb. 1, 2024. The search warrant, signed by Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho a day earlier, targeted the apartment and vehicle shared by Benavente and Sablan in connection with a burglary and theft investigation.

During the search of their apartment, law enforcement found a Daisy .22 long rifle leaning against a mirror, along with stolen items linked to the burglary. A search of the couple’s vehicle, aided by a K-9 unit, uncovered a broken glass pipe, a small Ziploc bag containing marijuana, and two orange pills in the dashboard ashtray.

Inside the apartment, police also found multiple mini-Ziploc bags filled with a crystalline-like substance scattered across various locations, including a table, drawer, and sofa bag. A field test confirmed that the substance was methamphetamine, with a total of 4.2 grams seized. In addition, officers confiscated 30 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition.

A check of the rifle’s serial number revealed that it was unregistered, adding to the list of charges against Benavente.

With his co-defendant Sablan awaiting her own trial, Benavente’s cooperation with authorities could play a pivotal role in the outcome of the case.